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I was approximately 50 feet away from former president Donald Trump on July 13 at his rally in my hometown of Butler, Pennsylvania, when the gunfire rang out. The chilling video and poignant photographs of the attempted assassination on our nation's 45th president are stark reminders of how quickly life can be jeopardized; and, sadly, how quickly life can be taken. May we remember the life of Corey Comperatore, the volunteer firefighter, 10-year U.S. Army Reserve veteran, husband, and father who was killed by the gunman during the rally. I continue to pray for his family.
In the days after the shooting, my hometown of more than 13,000 people was thrust into the national spotlight. We, and the rest of the American people, saw rumors about the shooting and the shooter swirling on social media. We heard contradicting statements. Separating truth from fiction is vital as law enforcement and Congress each conduct their respective investigations.
That's why, on Monday, I introduced legislation that will establish a bipartisan task force charged with investigating the attempted assassination of former president Trump. On Wednesday, Republicans and Democrats alike took swift action to pass this legislation and to officially launch this task force. This is a critical moment for our nation, a time when we must work together to seek the truth about this historic event.
The goals of my legislation and of this task force are simple: to investigate, detail, and explain the security breakdowns that tragically killed one person, injured two others, and nearly claimed President Trump's life. We must never let something like it happen again.
As Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) has outlined, the task force will be armed with subpoena power. Because it's a task force instead of a commission or committee, the group of 13 bipartisan members will face fewer procedural hurdles and they will be able to conduct their work more efficiently. While House committees of jurisdiction—including Oversight, Homeland Security, and Judiciary—continue to hold hearings, this task force will assume an even greater collective role to put the pieces of that tragic day together.
In the aftermath of the assassination attempt, I heard calls from both sides of the aisle to lower the political temperature, to tamp down the rhetoric. I echo these calls. My hope is that, by establishing the task force, we will shine a light on the facts that so many Americans have been desperately seeking. I know that's the case in Butler, Pennsylvania.
I have lived in Butler nearly all my life. I went to school here. My family business is here. My wife and I have raised our family here. Years ago, I played American Legion baseball in the fields behind the Butler Farm Show, the 100-plus acre property along a rural stretch of town that played host to the Trump rally. I have visited the Farm Show many times before. Since 1948, this has been a place where families and children come to celebrate our region's rich agricultural and farming traditions. It's a popular spot in the Butler community throughout the summer for food and fun.
On Monday, I traveled back to the Farm Show with members of the House Homeland Security Committee to tour the property as congressional investigations began. This hot spot for summer gatherings certainly had a grim feeling during the tour. I can tell you that my community is still grieving. They are shocked by what happened on what was supposed to be another peaceful day on these grounds. As we walked the Farm Show, we began to understand there are more questions than answers about what exactly happened and what led to the failures on that day.
This is why I believe the task force is critical: we must utilize the collective power of Congress as a tool to dig deeper and find the facts. The shooting wounded Mr. Trump, took the life of Corey Comperatore, and injured two other Pennsylvanians. It's important that we don't jump to any conclusions as we begin these investigations. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get the American people the answers they deserve.
U.S. Representative Mike Kelly is a Republican representing Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District, which includes Butler, Pa. where former President Donald Trump was injured during an attempted assassination on Saturday, July 13. He introduced legislation to launch the bipartisan House task force investigating the attempted assassination of Mr. Trump.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
